Similar Protocols

Reproducibility Feedback

Share your feedback

Abstract

Whole Mammary Gland Transplantation involves transplanting an excised mammary gland into another, more suitable host. This method can be used to extend the life of a mammary gland past the mouse’s life span by transplanting the mammary gland of an older mouse into a young healthy mouse. As you can see in the video below (Video 1), by attaching it to the abdomen of the mouse, the gland will receive a steady blood supply and both epithelial and stromal cells will remain viable for up to one year. Although this method is not used often, it has been part of several experiments including determining whether the stroma or epithelium is the primary target in chemically induced mouse mammary tumorigenesis (Medina and Kittrell, 2005). To monitor transplants, palpate every week for tumor formation. The transplanted mammary gland may also be passaged serially every 8-10 weeks. Keep transplanted gland in the same mouse for no longer than one year.

Animals: 8-12-week old female miceNote: Excised gland will need to be transplanted into the same strain of mouse. If donor and recipient are of different strains, the recipient must be immunocompromised (i.e., gland excised from Balb/c mouse and transplanted to NSG mouse).

Using the same preparation for surgery and steps C1-C2 of the surgery procedure described below, locate the mammary gland to be excised and using curved forceps, make sure the whole gland is exposed and completely separated from the body cavity.

Use rat tooth forceps to grasp the gland and using sharp scissors begin cutting the gland away from the skin until the whole gland is free from the skin and in one piece.

Immediately transfer the excised gland to the recipient mouse and continue with step C3 of the surgery procedure.

Prepare the mice for surgery

Weigh mouse.

Using 1 ml TB syringe, administer 40 mg/g body weight of Nembutal intraperitoneally to one side of the abdomen (this will provide 1 h of sedation).

Wait until the mouse has fallen asleep; confirm by checking hind limb reflex by pinching foot.

Use clippers to shave the abdomen.

Using 1 ml TB syringe, administer 5 mg/kg body weight Ketofen® intraperitoneally on the opposing side of ketamine injection site. This is for pain relief.

Place the mouse on a surgical board and secure limbs with surgical tape.

Sterilize the abdomen with 70% alcohol.

Surgery

Using the ball tip scissors, make an inverted Y incision to expose the abdominal wall and inguinal fat pads. Begin on the midline slightly below inguinal nipple and extended up about 1 inch; extending the other two cuts between the fourth and fifth nipples on either side.

Hold the skin with rat tooth forceps and using the curved forceps, separate the skin from the abdominal wall. Secure skin flaps with pins to expose abdominal wall.

Place excised gland on the abdominal wall, on either side of the midline. Make sure gland is lying flat against the wall and is not twisted as seen below (Figure 1).

Figure 1. Excised gland must lie flat against abdominal wall

Using hemostatic forceps, curved forceps and suture, suture each end of the transplanted gland to abdominal wall as seen below (Figure 2).

Figure 2. One suture in place at both ends of excised gland

Reposition the skin flaps and close the incision with wound clips.

Post-surgery

Allow mouse to recover on heating pad set to lowest setting (~110 F). Allow time for the mouse to regain consciousness before returning to the cage (30 min-1 h).Note: Keep in mind that the sedation lasts 1 h.

Administer 5 mg/kg body weight of Ketofen® intraperitoneally on either side of the abdomen 24 h later.

Remove wound clips 7-10 days post-surgery.

To monitor, palpate weekly for tumor formation.

Notes

Recipients were 8- to 12-week-old virgin female NSG, which were purchased from Jackson Laboratories. Animal experiments were conducted following protocols approved by the University of Kansas School of Medicine Animal Care and Use and Human Subjects Committee. All researchers must have this protocol approved by their own institution before performing the procedure.

Acknowledgments

This protocol was developed in the Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine and Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Kansas Medical School. The work was supported by NCI (1K99/R00 CA127462) to FB.

Please login to post your questions/comments. Your questions will be directed to the authors of the protocol. The authors will be requested to answer your questions at their earliest convenience. Once your questions are answered, you will be informed using the email address that you register with bio-protocol.
You are highly recommended to post your data including images for the troubleshooting.

You are highly recommended to post your data (images or even videos) for the troubleshooting. For uploading videos, you may need a Google account because Bio-protocol uses YouTube to host videos.